Reply to Graduates from low-performing D.C. schools face tough college road

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Reply to "Graduates from low-performing D.C. schools face tough college road"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]There's lots of FREE stuff out there which can help provide all kinds of academic support for kids, for example my kid got a ton out of Khan Academy, that's available for free on YouTube via computers at the library.

This idea about middle class and wealthy having access to some kind of magical, special supercharged academic support outside school never was never quite valid in the first place, and given all of the excellent FREE stuff that's out there, the argument about it all being due to economic disparity outside of the classroom is even less valid.[/quote]

Just because it is out there doesn't mean the child has access to it.  Parents play an incredible role in what  and how a child is exposed to new and different things.  Having parents that can read and do read to you in early childhood,  having parents who sign you up and take you to all the free stuff that is out there, having parents who know how to navigate the system,  having parents that take you to the library and the museums and the zoo, having parents that make sure you eat good healthy nutritious meals every day,  having parents   are the assets of the middle class and upper class child- assets that most poor children do not receive.    [/quote]

+1  I hope this is getting through to those who are very bright but who have no concept of what it's like to live in a very deprived environment.[/quote]Yet another +1. The kid at Georgetown who had the basic grammar problem no doubt has parents who speak that way. Yes, there is free stuff out there to help kids. Yes, you shouldn't assume poor kids can't make it. Yes, good teachers can make a difference. But it's not fair to the kids to assume that we all start on a level playing field and it's just a matter if working harder than anyone else. People who grow up in educated families have enormous advantages just by being able to soak up their parents' culture without even having to think about it.

BTW, I'm the person who posted about the kid not prepared for college by her charter school. I haven't been able to get staff to return my emails or calls. Just talked to her parents and they can't get answers either. Now I know none of you middle and upper income well-educated DCUM folks would put up with that. My students' parents have a hard time confronting the school about it. They complain to me about it but I suspect they're too intimidated to make a big stink about it. [/quote]

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